Steering-sled.



A. C; HIMEBAUGH.

STEERING sLBD.

APPLICATION FILED EEBJS,` 1913.

Patented July 28, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0., PHOTO-LITHO WASHINGTON. D. C.

A. C. -HIMEBAUGH.

STEERING SLED.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 13, 1913. 1 1 04,799. Patented July 28, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

ADELBERT C. I-IIMEBAUGII, F BURR OAK, MICHIGAN.

STEERING-snap.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 28, 1914.

Application led February 1913. Serial No. 748,144.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ADELBERT C. I-IIME- BAUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burr Gak, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering-Sleds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in steering slcds.

The main objects of t-his invention are: First, to provide an improved steering sled in which the steering is effected by laterally flexing the runners, and one in which the runners are edectively supported and at the same time, are very easily flexed. Second, to

Vprovide an improved sled having these ad-y by the devices and means described in the following specification.

'Ihe invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a perspective view of a structure embodying the features of my invention. Fig. II is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. I, the runners being shown in one of their flexed positions by dotted lines. Fig. III is an inverted view, the runners being shown in flexed positions by dotted lines. Fig. IV is a vertical transverse section on a line corresponding to line l-lof Fig. II. Fig. V is a detail vertical longitudinal section on a line corresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. II. Fig. VI is an enlarged detail section on a line corresponding to line 6 6 of Fig. IV. Fig. VII is an enlarged detail section on a line corresponding to line 7 7 of Fig. II. Fig. VIII is a detail horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 8-8 of Fig. V. Fig. IX is a detail vertical section on a line corresponding to line 9-9 of Fig. III, showing by dotted lines, one of the flexed positions of the side member of the knee. Fig. X is a perspective view of a slightly modified structure, the structure here illustrated being a two-knee structure. In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional viewsare taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines. Referring to the drawing, the runners 1 fare preferably formed of T-shaped steel. Any suitable material may bey used which permits the runners being sprung or flexed laterally. y

The body or top 2 in the structure illustrated is merely a flat board having a for-1 avardly projecting arm 3 at its forward end. 'j The knees l are formed of metal and are provided with top pieces 5` turned downjwardly at their outer ends into braces 6 which lap upon and are secured to the side 'members of the knees.

, The construction shown in Fig. I is provided with three knees, the rear and central knees being rigidly secured to the body as by bolts 7 or suitable rivets. The front knee is slidably associated with the body, it being preferably connected thereto by the centrally disposed clip 8 so that the knee may be swung longitudinally below the body.

The raves are formed of sections 9, 10 'and A11, the rear rave sections being rigidly secured to the rear and central knees by means of the rivets 12. The sections 10 are pivotally secured to the forward ends of the sections 9 by the pivots 13. These pivots are located in front of but adjacent to the central of first rigid knee, that is, the first knee which is rigidly secured to the body.

The forward rave sections 11 are secured by pivots 13 to the forward ends of the sections 10, these pivots being disposed in frontl of but adjacent to the front or swinging knee. The front ends of the rave sections 11 are secured to the front ends of the runners and the front ends of the runners and raves are connected by the Vcross bar 14. Mounted in this cross bar by means of the pivot 15, is acontrolling lever 16. This lever is provided with a rearwardly projecting arm 17 which is connected to the arm 3 on the body by means of the pivot 1S which engages the longitudinal slot 19 in the arm on the body. Thus arranged, when one end of the lever is pushed forward, the front ends of the runners and the pivoted rave sections are swung laterally in the opposite direction.

The lever projects at each side of the raves to form foot rests and is provided with holes 19 for the attachment of a rope so that the sled may be steered by the hands as well as by the feet or the lever may be conveniently grasped by the hands of the coaster lying face down on the sled. The pivoting of the raves permits free flexing of the runners and at the same time, the runners are well supported.

The rst rigid knee,-that is, the first knee rigidly secured to the body, is preferably somewhat fieXible, thereby relieving the runners of strain and at the same time effectively supporting them as stated.

In the modification shown in Fig. X, my improvements are adapted to a two-knee structure and each rave has only two sections. The swinging knee is not present in this structure. The structure is' very satisfactory in light sleds, but is not quite as strong or as flexible in sleds of the same weight of material as the three-knee structure shown in Fig. I.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in simple and very practical embodiment-s thereof.

I am aware that modifications other than the one illustrated are possible without departing from my invention, but I believe the disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art to which this invention relates to embody the same as may be deemed desirable, and therefore have not attempted to illustrate or describe such further modifications herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a steering sled, the combination of the flexible runners, a body, a plurality of knees to which the runners are secured, the front knee being slidably associated with the body, the other knees being rigidly secured thereto, the side members of the front rigidly secured knee being flexible, raves consisting of a pluralitv of sections, the rear sections being rigidly secured to the knees which are rigidly secured to the body with their front ends projecting beyond the front rigidly secured knee, the rear ends of the intermediate rave sections being pivoted to the forwardly projecting ends of the rear rave sections, their front ends being rigidly secured to the front movable knee with their front ends projecting forwardly beyond the same, the rear ends of the front rave sections being pivotally secured to the forwardly projecting ends of the intermediate rave sections and rigidly secured to the front ends of the runners, a cross bar connecting the front ends of the runners, and means for swinging the front ends of the runners and the pivoted rave sections laterally, all coacting for the purpose specified.

2. In a steering sled, the combination of the iexible runners, a body, a plurality of knees to which the runners are secured, the front knee being slidably associated with the body, the other knees being rigidly secured thereto, raves consisting of a plurality of sections, connected by vertical pivots, the pivots being disposed in front of but adjacent to the said front movable knee and the said rigidly secured knee at the rear thereof, the forward ends of the front rave sections being secured to the forward ends of the runners, a cross bar connectingthe forward ends of the runners and raves, and means for swinging the front ends of the runners and the pivoted rave sections laterally, all coacting for the purpose specified.

3. In a steering sled, the combination of the flexible runners, a body, a plurality of knees to which the runners are rigidly secured to the body, the side lmembers of the front rigidly secured knee being fieX- ible, raves consisting of a plurality of pivoted sections, the pivots being vertically disposed in front of but adjacent to the front rigidly secured knee, the forward ends of the front rave sections being connected tothe forward ends rof the runners, a cross bar connecting the forward ends of the runners and raves, and means for swinging the front ends of the runners and the pivoted rave sections laterally, all coacting for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

ADELBERT (l. HIMEBAUGH.

Witnesses:

RAY C. HIMEBAUGH, C. D. HrMnAUeI-L Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

